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Today's shift hadn't been particularly eventful. Jasper had sold a couple of children's books and a knitting magazine and that was it. Working at the bookstore was not an overly taxing job. Still, the fifteen year old boy was glad he was done for the day. He was hungry, had homework to do, and just wanted to go home and relax.

He hung his stupid-looking vest (complete with nametag on which his name was misspelled, Jesper) on a peg in the back room, gave a weak passing smile to his replacement (a disinterested and uninteresting girl who chewed her gum loudly and thumbed through tabloids during her working hours), and clocked out.

While Jasper didn't love it, a job was a job. This one paid slightly more than minimum wage and was willing to hire someone as young as himself. Besides, anything was better than helping out with the family business ... plumbing.

Daryl was glad to finally be out of the stuffy house. It was stuffy at all actually, but her nanny sure made it feel that way. Sure she had a Nanny, but ti was not why you would think, her parents were very busy, with their various super hero duties, and their cover jobs, so they hired Mildred when Daryl was born... but as she got older they continued to have her on their payroll, she was able to get Daryl to all her events, and school, and make her dinner, and stuff, she even took her shopping... a chore neither of her parents liked much, the whining for new clothes or shoes, was just too much, easier to just hand over the card and have it done for them.

Now the stuffy house this afternoon was because Mildred refused to take Daryl shopping for a new outfit until the chores were done... now this did NOT mean that Daryl had to do them, it was simply part of Mildred's job to help the housekeeper keep up on the daily chores in between her visit's. But Daryl had to stay out of the rooms as they got finished... which meant no big screen TV... she had to settle for the smaller one in her bedroom. Which is why it was such a relief to get to the mall.

Daryl had gotten some new boots, knee high brown boots with cute buttons up the side, a new dress to match, and some jeans and a tank and new top with ruffles. When Mildred wanted to go into the Bookstore for a book she had been waiting for, Daryl whined, she tried to use her power on her, but she did it once, and her parents found out... the only time they had EVER gotten mad at her... she was told she would be punished severely if she ever used it on Mildred again. They couldn't TELL Mildred what exactly had happened... but they knew. After all Daryl got everything she had wanted anyway, it was not like she needed to manipulate to get more...

So Daryl stood whining in the door way of the bookstore when she heard them... the cheerleaders from Sky High. Sure she knew them, and they liked each other okay, but she did NOT want to explain who this old lady was, and why she was waiting for her. Daryl scanned the store quickly for a cover, and saw a boy she vaguely recognized from school.

She reached out and looped her arm through his, "Just act like we like each other, laugh at my jokes and stuff..." She quickly whispered to him, and finished with a flirtatious laugh.

Jasper's first thought was that he was being attacked as his arm was twisted and he was pulled off balance, but that fear was put to rest as soon as he saw the perpetrator. While the look in her eyes and hiss in her voice were intimidating, her stature was not, and even if she was attacking him, he felt safe enough. Jasper relaxed and tried to work out what was going on.

"I ... say what?" Jasper looked around, bewildered. Had she mistaken him for someone else? But no, anyone who would be on the arm of this gorgeous blonde girl probably wouldn't look much like Jasper. Then she laughed. At nothing. And Jasper laughed too, though his was nervous sounding and contained a large helping of confusion, he didn't know what else to do as she pulled him out of the store. He probably would have stood his ground and refused to leave, but, well, he was leaving anyway ... it couldn't hurt to follow along with her until he figured out exactly what was going on.

At least the lurpy guy she dragged was playing along... but not very well. She waved to the girls as they passed, still smiling brightly like she was having the time of her life. She was about to let go of the guys arm when she looked at him.

He wasn't overly good looking... but had a smart look to him... he could be of use. Homework, last minute date... the possibilities were endless. So she decided not to end this too abruptly.

She stood on her toes and gave him a small peck on his check. "Thanks, I didn't want them to know I was here with my, er.... Gran!" She couldn't admit to him either she had a nanny... even if she was instructed to get her anything she wanted... except alone time... her parents didn't feel they could quite trust her on her own with her powers yet... and who are we kidding, with Daryl... and mind control, she could easily become a super villain...

Jasper gave a weak smile to the cheerleaders as they passed. He was generally beneath their notice. Well, figuratively anyway, literally he towered over them all. What was it about this girl on his arm that suddenly made him noticeable to some of the most popular girls in school? He wasn't entirely sure, but it all made him rather uncomfortable. And there was another thing he didn't know. He wasn't at all sure what was so bad about being seen with your grandmother ... but apparently something.

"Uh ... no problem ... I guess." he said with a shrug, attempting to extricate his arm from her grasp but failing. When she actually gave him a peck on the cheek he began to panic slightly. *ahemcough* "So ... are you going to go back to your grandmother now?" he asked hopefully.